Based in Paris, designer Lucas Zito has gone from utilising 3D printing as a prototyping method to a core function of his manufacturing processes. He discusses his creative journey with Roddy Clarke
Courtesy of Lucas Zito, Parisian designer Lucas Zito launched his first 3D printed collection, Buoy, in 2021, consisting of a series of sculptural lamps
Words by Roddy Clarke
With 3D printing now widely used for architectural and design models in the prototyping phases of a project, furniture and lighting design Lucas Zito has embedded it as a core function into the creation of his unique collections. ‘I always wondered how possible it was to use 3D printing as a manufacturing method instead of a prototyping method,’ he says.
While previously based in the Netherlands after studying at the Design Academy in Eindhoven, Zito relocated back to his hometown of Paris during lockdown where he spent time with his parents setting his studio back up in the garage of his family home. ‘Back then I was working with steel and ceramics,’ he explains, ‘but lacking space and machines in Paris I turned to 3D printing. Since then, I have driven deep into the technology and have established my whole practice around it. I use it in all aspects of my work, trying to push the boundaries of materials and technique.’
Courtesy of Lucas Zito, While many turn to 3D printing for prototyping, Zito has incorporated it as the core function within his design practice
The Buoy Collection, which he released in 2021, established an aesthetic the designer has since continued to build upon. Consisting of a series of lightweight 3D printed lamps inspired by the forms of buoys at sea, they exude a sculptural flair while using as little material as possible irrespective of their size. Crafted from PLA, a thermoplastic derived from starch, Zito says how the material he uses influences almost 100% of the technique. ‘Then the technique creates the object and often, after some time, the object takes over and gets translated into other material,’ he says.
Courtesy of Lucas Zito, His recent IVY collection is a series of modular lighting structures that boast an architectural beauty and structure
Guided by his creative intuition, Zito says his first approach for a project often involves making mistakes and developing those unwanted paths. ‘I like to convert a technical issue into an aesthetical property.’ His most recent launches include IVY, a series of modular lamps that boast an architectural-inspired structure and are crafted from recycled PETG. Another lighting collection, titled PATCH, is a collection that celebrates the process rather than the form. With exposed joints and traces of the manual construction left visible, the lamps have a raw artistic appeal. ‘The inspiration was the last step before finishing as I found it through the number of traces and layers of different material beneath a finished coating,’ he explains. ‘Removing the coating was a way to show the complexity of craftsmanship behind each design.’
Courtesy of Lucas Zito, The PATCH collection celebrates the process of making, leaving the manual construction marks and joints visible
While designers are turning to 3D print for its resourceful and efficient use of material, Zito says its sustainable advantages are not so much of a conscious decision now as his practice and thinking is so inherently shaped through an environmental viewpoint. ‘However, internally we are really trying to build a no waste strategy,’ he comments, ‘creating value as much as we can with what we would otherwise consider unvaluable.’
Courtesy of Lucas Zito, While 3D printing is growing in its popularity as a creative process, Zito is bringing a refined, contemporary edge to its aesthetic that is elevating it with the design world today
In witnessing Zito’s creativity, it also draws attention to the growing capacity of 3D printing and its expanding design applications. While many things are yet to be discovered, Zito’s personal mission is embedded in his creative process. ‘The joy of creating is what we seek when we are making objects,’ he says. ‘I am on a quest to discover myself and express my ideas as richly as I can. Everybody needs to discover the scope of their expression and, while some choose words, sounds or movements, I chose objects to explore how they make us feel in a visual or haptic way.’
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